The Samudra Manthan is a National Offshore Exploration Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, and is India's largest offshore exploration initiative to date. The scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on July 31, 2026, with an approved outlay of ₹84,084 crore for implementation up to the financial year 2030–31. Its origin lies in the Prime Minister's vision, articulated on Independence Day 2025, to unlock India's vast offshore energy potential and reduce the nation's high dependence on imported crude oil and natural gas.
The scheme works by providing government-backed financial support to de-risk and accelerate exploration in deepwater and ultra-deepwater areas. It is structured around four main components. First, ₹28,534 crore is allocated for large-scale 2D and 3D Seismic Data Acquisition, Processing, and Interpretation. Second, ₹43,200 crore is earmarked to support the drilling of 60 deepwater wells, where the government covers up to 50% of the eligible drilling cost, or ₹675 crore per well, to lower investment risks for both public and private operators. Third, ₹10,000 crore is provided to partially fund Common Offshore Infrastructure for production in select basins. Finally, ₹2,000 crore is allocated for developing integrated Oil and Gas Manufacturing and Services Zones. The scheme is expected to add over 600 million tonnes of oil and oil equivalent gas (MMTOE) to hydrocarbon reserves. The name itself connects to the mythological Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) and advances the national vision of Viksit Bharat.